The orderbook for Airbus’s smallest model, the 107-seat A318, has contracted to just over 80 aircraft following the switching of 15 orders by two customers to other A320 family types. The development comes as assembly begins of the last example of one the A318’s rivals, the Boeing 717.
In January, Iberia dropped its 10-strong A318 commitment as part of a revamp of its A320 family backlog by converting the orders to the larger A319. International Lease Finance also switched its five A318 orders to A319s. The net result is that total A318 orders have fallen to 82, and the backlog to 54.
Meanwhile, final assembly began last week of the last of 156 717s at the former McDonnell Douglas plant in Long Beach, California. AirTran Airways is due to receive the aircraft in May, when it will be the last of 155 717s to be delivered – the original development aircraft was retained by Boeing.
The 717, which started life as the MD-95, is a major derivative of the original MDC DC-9 twinjet, the first of which flew in 1965.
Source: Flight International
